WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HD 78

An Act relative to public information requests

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Marcus Vaughn

Requires local election registrars to provide voting lists to the State Secretary, making those lists public records accessible statewide under the public records law.

0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HD 78

Summary: An Act relative to public information requests (HD 78)

Overview

HD 78, titled An Act relative to public information requests, proposes to amend multiple chapters of the Massachusetts General Laws to require the Registrar of Voters to provide copies of specific voting-related lists to the State Secretary. The lists would become public records held by the state secretary, and requests for regional or statewide versions would be handled under Massachusetts’ public records framework (Chapter 66). The bill appears as a proposed measure in the 2025-2026 General Court session. The status field is not filled in the provided text.

Key Provisions

  • Section 1 (Chapter 51, Section 55): Adds a new paragraph obligating Registrars to provide the State Secretary with a copy of every voting list required by Section 55. If a voter is registered in the electronic registration system, that registration suffices to provide the voting list. The produced list becomes a public record in the custody of the State Secretary, and the State Secretary must respond to requests for regional or statewide voting lists. Requests for inspection or copying are governed by Chapter 66.

  • Section 2 (Chapter 54, Section 91): Adds a new paragraph requiring Registrars to provide the State Secretary with a copy of every absentee voting list required by Section 91. The list is a public record, the State Secretary shall respond to regional or statewide requests, and requests are governed by Chapter 66.

  • Section 3 (Chapter 54, Section 91A): Adds a new paragraph requiring Registrars to provide the State Secretary with a copy of every specially qualified voter list required by Section 91A. The list is a public record, the State Secretary shall respond to regional or statewide requests, and requests are governed by Chapter 66.

Who Is Affected

  • Local election Registrars / election officials: required to furnish copies of specific voting lists to the State Secretary.
  • Office of the State Secretary (Elections/Records): designated custodian and responsive party for public requests for these lists.
  • The General Public and organizations requesting voting-related lists: would have broader access to regional or statewide voter lists, via Chapter 66 procedures.

Public Access and Privacy Considerations

  • The bill expands public access to:
    • Voting lists required by law
    • Absentee voting lists
    • Specially qualified voter lists
  • All such lists would be public records held by the State Secretary and subject to public records requests under Chapter 66.
  • The text does not specify privacy redactions or exemptions for personal data, which may raise privacy and security considerations for voters.

Timelines and Process

  • Requests for inspection or copying of these lists would be governed by Chapter 66 (the Massachusetts Public Records Law).
  • The bill does not specify a separate timeline or effective date within the provided text.

Note on Status and Context

  • The bill’s status is not provided in the excerpt. A similar measure previously filed in a prior session (House 728, 2023-2024) indicates recurring interest in public access to voter lists.

Bottom Line

HD 78 would centralize and broaden public access to certain voter lists by requiring Registrars to transmit copies to the State Secretary, establishing those lists as public records, and routing access through the statewide public records framework. The proposal emphasizes transparency but raises questions about privacy protections for individual voters.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.